swarthy skipper | skymeadows

swarthy skipper (Nastra lherminier)

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

FAMILY: Skippers (Hesperiidae)
SUBFAMILY: Grass Skippers (Hesperiinae)

IDENTIFICATION: Upperside is dark brown; forewing may have 2
very faint light spots. Underside of hindwing is yellow-brown with
lighter veins.

LIFE HISTORY: Males perch near the ground on grass stems; most
mating occurs in the late afternoon.

FLIGHT: Two broods from May-September, earlier in the south.

WING SPAN: 1 - 1 1/8 inches (2.5 - 2.9 cm).

CATERPILLAR HOSTS: Little bluestem (Andropogon scoparius).

ADULT FOOD: Nectar from low-growing flowers including selfheal, red
clover, tick trefoil, purple vetch, New Jersey tea, and peppermint.

HABITAT: Grassy, open areas such as sand barrens, meadows, hillsides,
fields.

RANGE: Eastern United States from Missouri east to southern New
York; south to eastern Texas, the Gulf states, and southern Florida.
Strays north to northern Minnesota, southern Michigan, and western
Kansas.

CONSERVATION: Not usually required.

NATURESERVE GLOBAL STATUS: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally,
though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the
periphery.

MANAGEMENT NEEDS: None reported.

SKY MEADOWS OCCURRENCE:

Note: Due to seasonal conditions in this region, occurrence may vary from

year to year. The designation of occurrence may range over two or more

categories and may vary even during a single season.

Key to Checklist

A   Abundant: Easy to see very large numbers of individuals in appropriate habitat
      at proper time of year.
C   Common: Usually each to see good numbers of individuals in appropriate habitat
      at proper time of year.
U   Uncommon: Sometimes found in appropriate habitat and proper time of year,
      usually in low numbers.
O   Occasional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times a year, usually
      in low numbers.
R   Rare: Small chance of being found, even in appropriate habitat at proper time of
      year. There are few individuals and may not be present every year.
X   Extirpated: Formerly present, no longer occurs in Sky Meadows Park.